For the second year in a row, the entire LigerBots team participated in a three-day design blitz right after the FRC robot game kickoff. We were excited to learn that the Steamworks game involves robots launching imaginary airships by delivering large, plastic gears to rotors and shooting balls, (representing fuel,) into large funnels leading to our team’s “boiler.” During our design blitz every LigerBot and mentor, including those who are not usually involved in engineering, helped design a 2017 robot. After three days of research, drawing, and discussion, the entire team got back together to watch design presentations from each group. Afterwards, student leaders from each area of engineering expertise met to discuss the pros and cons of each design. Once they chose the best features of each robot, they moved forward with the final design and the building process began.

The team divided into build groups that will each focus on a different feature of the robot, including a ball shooter, gear placer, a rope-climbing mechanism, a chassis, and software. This week, the build groups began designing and building prototypes for the ball shooter and gear placer, sketching out software solutions, and cutting metal for the chassis. The team has also been preparing for the construction of a second robot, which has the potential to test alternative designs. Next up: ordering the parts and beginning to manufacture the robot!

Meanwhile, our business group worked on preparing for several upcoming outreach events and our Chairman’s Award submission, including taking lots of video and interviewing team members and mentors. (The Chairman’s Award is FIRST’s most prestigious award given to teams that most successfully spread the mission of FIRST.) But it’s not all work and no play! We started our build season team dinners and movie nights, which are a great way for everyone to relax after an exciting day building our robot.